iPhone and iPodhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/9235/all
enRépublique — Episode 1: Exordium Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/games/r%C3%A9publique_%E2%80%94_episode_1_exordium_review_0
<!--paging_filter--><p class="p1">Most notable stealth-action games — including Metal Gear Solid, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and Mark of the Ninja — make sneaking about and leaving enemies undisturbed merely an option, also providing the ease and capability of dealing out death as desired. Not so in the first episode of République, which follows Hope, a teenage girl held captive for possessing revolutionary materials within the school of a totalitarian regime. Aside from wielding the occasional pepper spray bottle or a one-time-use taser, she’ll need to creep around every corner and stay totally unseen to avoid being recaptured. And unlike in the average stealth affair, you’re not even directly controlling her actions.</p><p class="p1">Instead, you’ll take the role of a disillusioned security worker, who helps free Hope and shepherd her through the facility by viewing her surroundings via closed-circuit video cameras and sending directives to her device. It’s an approach well suited for a touch interface, as you can simply tap to direct Hope towards her next destination (including leaned up against a wall, or crawling through a vent opening), switch cameras, “hack” open locks, or trigger a contextual action, like pickpocketing a guard when his back is turned. You're essentially still controlling her in the end, but that kind of context helps explain why the touch-centric mechanics are simpler than in the average genre entry.</p><p class="p1"><img src="/files/u297092/screen5.jpg" width="620" height="465" /></p><p class="p1">It’s all very streamlined, but there’s still room for tactical thinking — and it’s a necessary level of simplification to make a console-inspired game like this work comfortably on iPad and iPhone. Navigating the world via cameras has its clumsy moments; the slow panning and limited views mean you may swap between a few such feeds to get through a single area. That may help build atmosphere, but it’s still kind of a pain. Yet aside from the occasional misplaced movement marker, République does a stellar job of reading your taps and giving you solid control of Hope, even without active movement inputs. That said, the depth of interaction seen in this initial episode had better be just a taste of what’s to come, or else things could get repetitive very quickly down the line.</p><p class="p1">We don’t see all that much of République’s world in Exordium, the first of five planned episodes; mostly sterile hallways and security rooms, plus a more lavishly decorated library and surrounding areas — but the detailed visuals still impress, aside from the occasional animation glitch, and the voice acting is also excellent. Exordium unfolds a few small bits of narrative across its three-or-so-hour runtime, but it’s never quite clear what that’s all leading to. Like most initial entries in episodic series, it’s content to set the table for the later chapters, but what it teases is plenty enough to generate intrigue and keep you around for further installments. And we love its unique personality amidst what could have been a very dry kind of environment; the little jokes keep things lively, while collectable Atari-esque game cartridges based on other iOS games are a wonderful touch.</p><p class="p1"><strong>The bottom line.</strong>&nbsp;Streamlined stealth and an intriguing premise blend well to get République off to a promising start in Exordium.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/republique/id687888390?mt=8">République 1.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Camouflaj </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>http://www.camouflaj.com</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$4.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 7.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Distinct approach makes the usually-complex stealth genre feel well suited to a touch device. Great visuals and voice acting. References to other iOS and Kickstarter-backed games are a highly charming touch. Provides enough of a hook for later episodes.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Rotating cameras and swapping between them can be laborious. Occasional misinterpreted movement command. Limited interaction options, which is concerning for later episodes.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/games/r%C3%A9publique_%E2%80%94_episode_1_exordium_review_0#commentsGalleryReviewsactionapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsCamouflajgamesiPadiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonekickstarterLoganRepubliquereviewssoftwarestealthiPadiPhoneiPodGamesTue, 24 Dec 2013 00:30:49 +0000Andrew Hayward18951 at http://www.maclife.comiMovie 2.0 for iOS Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/imovie_20_ios_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Newly exclusive to iOS 7, iMovie 2.0 is a big leap forward for mobile video editing. Apple nixes the movie theater motif of earlier versions in favor of a more streamlined UI here, making it easier than ever to create slick projects complete with slow motion, titles, and transitions. And unlike earlier versions that sometimes behaved sluggishly, iMovie 2.0 offers 64-bit support for the iPhone 5s and upcoming iPad models, accomplishing every task with breakneck speed. The app even eliminates older pain points with audio: Fade ins and outs are now adjustable, and audio from video clips can now be detached or inserted on its own.<br /><br />Most of this magic is accomplished with the new Adjustments Bar, which hides at the bottom of the display until needed — particularly welcome on the iPhone. Sadly, some niceties are exclusive to iPad, including the ability to view dynamically updating audio waveforms as volume adjustments are made, perform split edits, or fine-tune transition points. iMovie 2.0 softens the blow of such limitations by allowing iPhone users to quickly rough out an edit, then wirelessly transfer the project to an iPad via AirDrop, where it can be completed with more robust tools. This feature worked like a charm on our iPad mini, and is far easier than transfers done via iTunes File Sharing.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/10/screen_70.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>iMovie still doesn’t offer anything in the way of filters or effects, although three new transition options (Slide, Wipe, and Fade through black or white) are welcome additions. The app nicely complements high frame rate (i.e. slow motion) recording on the iPhone 5s, which can be used to record clips inside the app or import them from the Camera Roll.<br /><br />We had high hopes for iMovie Theater, which saves completed movies to iCloud for viewing on other iOS devices, iMovie 10 for Mac, or Apple TV. Unlike iCloud Photo Sharing, iMovie Theater is limited to available space on your account, so even a few 1080p HD files will quickly hit the ceiling on free 5GB accounts. Worse yet, sharing beyond Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo is limited to low-resolution email attachments or iMessages, although movies can be saved to the Camera Roll and shared via iCloud Photo Sharing from the Photos app.<br /><br />On a side note, Apple temporarily removed the ability to edit iMovie for iOS projects with the Mac version, although the company promises that it will return in a future update. For now, however, projects are once again limited strictly to iOS devices.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Although it lacks any fancy filters or effects, iMovie 2.0 is fast, fluid, and one of the best ways to create cool videos on any iOS device.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imovie/id377298193?mt=8" target="_blank">iMovie for iOS 2.0</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Apple </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$4.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 7.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fast, fluid editing with newly streamlined UI. More robust audio editing controls. Share projects between iOS devices using AirDrop. 64-bit support.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Still no filters or effects. Some features limited to iPad version. iMovie Theater limited by available iCloud storage space. No direct iCloud Photo Sharing option.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/imovie_20_ios_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsappleAppLifeEditingFilmfootageiMovieiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonemoviesreviewsSoftwaresoftwarevideoiPadiPhoneiPodWed, 30 Oct 2013 16:47:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18492 at http://www.maclife.comU.S. Geography by MindSnacks Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/us_geography_mindsnacks_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>MindSnacks has a reputation for quality foreign-language educational apps, but its latest release focuses squarely on the United States — or more specifically, on learning just about everything there is to know about all 50 states. U.S. Geography includes eight games tailored for beginner or intermediate students, but it’s also perfect for immigrants, visitors, and citizens who want to brush up on their coast-to-coast knowledge.<br /><br />All told, MindSnacks delivers over 40 hours of interactive content, more than 600 hand-drawn graphics, and 1,000-plus trivia questions to keep players on their toes. Initially, only four of the eight games are available; users unlock others by successfully navigating a virtual road trip across the country. The first level, featuring a frog named Belly, comes ready to play, but others require an initial one-time download.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/10/screen_31.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>While the focus may be on geography, the app ventures far deeper than borders, shapes, and landmarks, with detailed information on the history and culture of each state, including flags, mottos, capitals, and major cities. A slide-out panel provides one-tap access to multiple users and profiles, displaying "quests" (MindSnacks’ version of in-game achievements) and a handy pinch-friendly reference atlas. Incorrectly answered questions disappear from the screen, but eventually return so players get another crack at them.<br /><br />Unlike the company’s other apps, which are free to download but require in-app purchases to get any real use out of, U.S. Geography is all yours for a reasonable $2.99. MindSnacks hasn’t lost its penchant for friendly, colorful graphics, and the app is universal, so it works equally well on all of the iOS device(s) you own. While U.S. Geography is engaging and fun, be prepared to spend a fair amount of time in the Review section studying each state prior to playing. The first level, which identifies state shapes or flags, doesn’t offer much hand-holding, but the gameplay gets a little more user-friendly as each level unfolds.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. U.S. Geography by MindSnacks is a graphically rich app with a veritable treasure trove of educational and fun facts about all 50 states.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/u.s.-geography-by-mindsnacks/id690162481?mt=8" target="_blank">U.S. Geography by MindSnacks 3.4.0</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
MindSnacks, Inc. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.mindsnacks.com" target="_blank">http://www.mindsnacks.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$2.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Unique hand-drawn graphics. Extensive knowledge of each state. Covers far more than simple geography.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Most games require study prior to playing. Games past first level require one-time download. Four games must be unlocked before playing.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/us_geography_mindsnacks_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeedutainmentiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhoneMindSnacksreviewsSchoolSoftwaresoftwareU.S. GeographyUnited StatesiPadMon, 21 Oct 2013 18:50:58 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18375 at http://www.maclife.comInfinity Blade III Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/infinity_blade_iii_review
<!--paging_filter--><p class="p1">Any early gripes about the App Store being a destination solely for casual gaming were pretty well silenced with the release of the original Infinity Blade, which delivered a rich, rewarding, and utterly gorgeous combat experience without trying to shoehorn a console-style affair onto a touch screen device. Infinity Blade II nicely expanded upon the concept with additional weapon types and branching paths to explore, while digging a little deeper into the narrative surrounding the adventure.</p><p class="p1">Launching alongside a couple of other juggernaut releases — the iPhone 5s and iOS 7 — Infinity Blade III concludes the trilogy in expectedly slick fashion. The single-player quest trumps its predecessor as the best-looking iOS game to date, with fantastic detail throughout the environments and an array of wide, swooping camera shots to create the sense of an epic scale on even a small iPhone screen. And while the combat remains reliably enjoyable, the grinding nature of the series' campaign approach makes this third entry feel a bit more tiresome amidst the overall triumph.</p><p class="p1"><img src="/files/u297092/2013/09/screen6.png" width="620" /></p><p class="p1">It's somewhat surprising, because on the surface, Infinity Blade III injects a bit more variety into the adventure than the series has in the past. You'll control a pair of fighters, Siris and Isa, in separate, smaller, self-contained series of battles that you'll access from a map screen as the storyline progresses. While several other iOS games have copied Infinity Blade's combat system wholesale, the original combat system remains the most fluid and refined of the bunch, and Infinity Blade III's swipe and tap-based duels feel responsive, challenging, and intuitive on the touch screen. It remains one of the best examples of touch screen-centric gaming after all this time, and the constant pursuit of leveling up your character and amassing new gear still proves a strong hook.</p><p class="p1">But despite a mix of side events like Clash Mob social missions, solo combat trials, and crafting potions to spice up the action, the smaller campaign arcs can prove grueling when the inconsistent difficulty puts you up against a brick wall of a boss. You'll be forced to repeat the same series of fights again and again along the linear paths to earn enough experience to move forward, and we miss the more open areas of the previous entry. Moreover, splitting the action between two characters slightly lessens the attachment you have to your customizable hero. Add to that unclear storytelling that assumes you're a scholar of series lore (including the Infinity Blade novellas), and the game loses its grip on players from time to time.</p><p class="p1"><img src="/files/u297092/2013/09/screen3.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p class="p1">Outside of those occasional exasperating moments, however, Infinity Blade III still demonstrates the great pull that made the series the iOS smash it is today, with brilliant refinement seen throughout. Like its predecessors, it's the rare game that delivers both quick-hit action and opportunity for long-term investment — but if you're not already deeply entrenched in the franchise, the latest entry isn't the best place to start.</p><p class="p1"><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Infinity Blade III caps off the epic franchise in a largely dazzling manner, though the repetitive nature of the series resonates more strongly than ever.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/infinity-blade-iii/id610003290?mt=8">Infinity Blade III 1.0.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Chair Entertainment </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.infinityblade.com">http://www.infinityblade.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$6.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fantastic presentation, including dazzling visuals and strong voice acting. Combat system is still really sharp, and a perfect fit for a touch screen. Plenty of opportunity to dig in and play for hours and hours.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Grinding, repetitive design feels like more of a turn-off this time around. Unclear storytelling doesn't make it easy for newcomers or casual fans to keep up with the events.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/infinity_blade_iii_review#commentsGalleryReviewsactionAdventureapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsChair Enterainmentepic gamesfightingGamesgamesinfinity bladeiPadiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonereviewsrpgsoftwareiPadiPhoneiPodFri, 20 Sep 2013 23:40:18 +0000Andrew Hayward18118 at http://www.maclife.comBlur Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/blur_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Whether you’ve preordered a 5C or just plan on updating a scratched and dented 4S, iOS 7 will make your iPhone feel like a million bucks. It's more than a fresh coat of paint – new animations and transparencies give the interface a depth like never before, adding a third dimension to your home screen and bringing your backgrounds to life. Since keyboards and menu bars float above the app grid on their own semi-translucent layer, different colors change the appearance of elements such as the Control Center and Phone keypad.<br /><br />It's the closest thing to a theme that we're ever going to get from Apple, and you'll likely find yourself swapping out your wallpaper a lot more often than you did in iOS 6. This is why we love Blur.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/09/screen_35.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />The interface comprises all of three elements – two buttons and a slider – but Blur's artful simplicity presents a world of creative possibilities. All you need to get started is a photo, and you can either use the random one supplied each time you launch, take a new one, or select a snapshot from your library. Moving the slider adjusts the blur effect, and the results are extremely natural, much in the vein of Photoshop's Gaussian filter. Once you settle on a design, you can save it to your camera roll.<br /><br />Results vary, of course, but we were mostly very impressed with the wallpapers we created with Blur. We had a few quibbles – there was a bit of lag while blurring, and we wish we could adjust the colors in our favorite blurs – but we wouldn't be surprised to see Apple add this kind of functionality in iOS 8.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Blur does exactly what its name suggests, but the results are better than you can imagine.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blur./id637855838?ls=1&amp;mt=8" target="_blank">Blur 1.5</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Enormo.us </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.enormo.us" target="_blank">http://www.enormo.us</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$0.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 6.1 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Exquisitely simple interface. Excellent blurring results. Nice selection of photos.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No color adjustment. Some lag with the blurring slider.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/blur_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifebackgroundBluriOS 7iPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonereviewsSoftwaresoftwarewallpaperiPadWed, 18 Sep 2013 18:58:25 +0000Michael Simon18098 at http://www.maclife.comDoo Document Organizer & Scanner (iOS) Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/doo_document_organizer_scanner_ios_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Until Apple opens up the iOS file system — and don't hold your breath waiting for that — we'll likely continue to be reliant on cloud services to transport our files to and from our Macs. There's no shortage of ways to do this, but keeping track of everything can be daunting, especially if we can't remember where (or if) we uploaded a file. Doo attempts to solve this problem with a master cloud service that brings all of our files under one roof. <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/doo_document_organizer_review" target="_blank">On our Macs</a>, it definitely simplified things, but it was missing a mobile component to make it truly useful. Doo for iOS opens the service up to our iPhones and iPads, but unfortunately, it isn't the stellar complement we hoped it would be.</p><p>At first glance, having Doo on your iOS device(s) seems like a dream come true. Launching the app instantly brings up a full list of your synced files in a neat list with thumbnails and time stamps. A sidebar lets you easily switch between storage locations, and a live search field helps quickly sort through large piles of documents and pictures. You can't create or edit new documents in Doo, but a nifty capture tool uses your camera to scan pieces of paper that need digitizing.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2013/09/main_1.png" width="620" height="367" /></p><p>Doo does a fine job of collecting your files, but we found the app to mostly be a clunky, inferior version of the Mac app. While it was nice to see the files that were otherwise stuck in our documents folder on our office computers, Doo made us jump through several hoops to actually do anything with them. There's no way to organize things, so you'll be using the search field quite a bit. Editing requires several taps to get to the sharing screen, and the action bar didn't let us apply tags or flags. We experienced several crashes and error messages while trying to access files, and the iPad app, which can only be used in portrait orientation, adds nothing to the experience despite all that extra space.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Doo does what it's supposed to do, but we just wish it did it a little better.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doo-document-organizer-scanner/id454738553?mt=8" target="_blank">Doo Document Organizer &amp; Scanner 2.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Doo GmbH </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>http://www.doo.net</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 6.1 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Simple interface. Easy access to files stored on your Mac. Good scanning tool.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>No organization. Little interaction with files. Some crashes. Lame iPad support.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/doo_document_organizer_scanner_ios_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifecloudDocumentsDooiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonePDFsreviewsscanningSoftwaresoftwareiPadThu, 12 Sep 2013 14:00:15 +0000Michael Simon18032 at http://www.maclife.comNew iOS Game Releases This Week: August 29, 2013http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new_ios_game_releases_week_august_29_2013
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/08/screen_37.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>Each week brings an absolute barrage of new games for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, but it can be difficult to pick out of the cream of the crop by looking at a mass of icons and titles. Luckily, we're tuned in to the most notable releases, and we'll be presenting a small stack of them with this column. Each week, you'll find a diverse array of free and paid games across a variety of genres, and we'll highlight the unique aspects of each, as well as anything that seems like it might be a barrier to enjoyment.<br /><br />Terraria and Junk Jack X – a couple of distinct side-scrolling takes on the Minecraft formula – battle it out this week, while the free-to-play Madden NFL 25 and Racing Rivals both aim to be your new freebie time sink of choice. And if you're a fan of The Room on iPad or iPhone, a brand new update adds a fresh epilogue chapter in advance of a full sequel due out later this year. Be sure to keep an eye out for full reviews of some of these titles in the coming days, and then check back next Thursday for an all-new list of notable games to consider.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new_ios_game_releases_week_august_29_2013#commentsGalleryGalleryiOSiPadiPhone and iPodiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 29 Aug 2013 22:09:54 +0000Andrew Hayward17914 at http://www.maclife.comPasswarden Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/passwarden_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>The impending arrival of iCloud Keychain has thrown a spotlight onto apps used to store sensitive data, including our longtime favorite, 1Password. The folks behind lesser-known contender Passwarden have seized this opportunity to overhaul their own app, but they haven’t gone far enough quite yet. Like 1Password, Passwarden stores login, credit card, and other data with 256-bit AES encryption, with the option to sync it between OS X and iOS. Although the core functionality is largely the same, Passwarden’s freemium business model is a real kick in the teeth.<br /><br />While the OS X app allows unlimited logins to be imported from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, to get them onto mobile, users must first purchase "DataRecords" for each entry (10 for $0.99 or $9.99 for 120), then pay again to sync them to a mobile device ($0.99 monthly, $9.99 annually). Each new device the app is installed onto adds 10 free DataRecords to your account; Passwarden deceptively advertises the apps as free for one month, but that only applies to sync, leaving entries above the free allotment unavailable on iOS devices.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/08/screen_30.png" /></p><p>Passwarden can’t directly import 1Password databases, but even if it could, it would be equally expensive in the long run. At $14.99 for a year of sync with 500 DataRecords plus $39.96 for additional DataRecords, a database with nearly 1,000 records would cost $55 – and even more down the road. Passwarden is also not a particularly attractive app, painted in a gaudy shade of blue with uninspired typefaces. While 1Password syncs with both Dropbox and iCloud, Passwarden uses a proprietary server, which made us a little uncomfortable about storing our sensitive information.<br /><br />The built-in web browser in Passwarden 2.0 is a welcome addition, but Darsoft has oddly limited its use to portrait mode only, handicapping an otherwise useful feature. On the plus side, the app offers the ability to use DataRecords for contacts, documents, or photos, although this could get extremely expensive quickly if users aren’t careful.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Dubious microtransaction-centric business model aside, Passwarden pales in comparison to rivals like 1Password, with a UI makeover that doesn’t go nearly far enough.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/passwarden/id590418846?mt=8" target="_blank">Passwarden 2.0.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Darsoft Inc </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.passwarden.com" target="_blank">http://www.passwarden.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Free to install for iOS or OS X. Built-in web browser with automatic login. Universal build for iPad. Stores contacts, documents, or photos (requires sufficient DataRecords).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>In-app sync and DataRecords make this more expensive in the long run than competing apps. Built-in web browser locked in portrait mode. Unattractive user interface. Requires user login every time app is opened. Notification reminder spam to purchase DataRecords.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/passwarden_review#commentsGalleryReviews1Passwordapp store reviewsAppLifeDarsoftdata encryptioniPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonePasswardenpasswordsProtectionreviewsSafetySoftwaresoftwareiPadTue, 27 Aug 2013 16:48:54 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17884 at http://www.maclife.com10 Classic Point-and-Click Adventure Games You Can Play on iOShttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_classic_pointandclick_adventure_games_you_can_play_ios
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/08/screen_26.png" width="620" height="413" /></p><p>Adventure games aren’t dead (and they never really were), but we’re long past their best days, when companies like LucasArts and Sierra bashed out a new comedic masterpiece every year, and more cerebral titles like Myst and Riven dominated sales charts. We’re in the midst of a genre revival at the moment, spurred by collective nostalgia and a slew of re-releases and remakes of the all-time greats. Want to relive — or catch up on — the genre's glory days? Luckily, you can do so on iPad and iPhone, and these 10 point-and-click classics from yesteryear offer a great selection of old favorites.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_classic_pointandclick_adventure_games_you_can_play_ios#commentsGalleryGalleryGamesgamesiOSiPadiPhone and iPodiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 22 Aug 2013 22:02:03 +0000Richard Moss17849 at http://www.maclife.comSplyce Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/splyce_review
<!--paging_filter--><p class="p1">There are dozens of audio players available in the App Store to fit any taste, but for the most part, they pretty much do the same thing the original Music app did. Splyce is different. It still plays the songs that are stored on your device, but there's a focus on transitions that puts your tunes in a whole new light, turning the most eclectic of playlists into a mix worthy of being played at the hottest of dance clubs.</p><p class="p1">The multi-colored interface looks more like something out of a Daft Punk orientation manual than a DJing app, and it's designed very much in the style of iOS 7, with bright gradients and borderless buttons. You'll be initially asked to load a selection of your favorite songs, but instead of haphazardly adding them to its library, the app analyzes each track and organizes them by beats per minute (BPM).</p><p class="p1"><img src="/files/u297092/screens.png" width="620" height="507" /></p><p class="p1">And then the fun begins. Tapping a title begins playing a song like you'd expect, but a series of funky icons gives you control over how long each track plays and how it is blended with the next one. For example, if you choose to have songs run for a minute with 20 seconds of mixing, the next track will begin playing 40 seconds in; during the overlapping time, Splyce will gradually adjust the BPM until they match, with the upcoming tune controlling the tempo.&nbsp;</p><p class="p1">You can manually mix songs, too, but it's much more fun to watch Splyce's blocky waveforms take over. The color of the interface is customizable, and while you're controlling the dance floor, it can be even set to have your back camera flash blink with the beat. An in-app purchase unlocks the "full Splyce experience," which adds support for Phillips' Hue bulbs and makes some other temporary features permanently available.</p><p class="p2">We loved playing with Splyce, but its wild interface caused a bit of confusion at times. Also, some of the songs sounded strange as they were being mixed, and we would have liked iTunes Match support, though the ability to hide songs in the cloud is appreciated.</p><p class="p1"><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Splyce is awesome fun whether you're hosting a dance party or just dancing by yourself.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/splyce-fancy-music-player/id648339800?mt=8">Splyce 1.0.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
InQBarna </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.inqbarna.com">http://www.inqbarna.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Exciting, engaging interface. Great mixing options. Fun party elements.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Interface can be confusing. Some funky mixing results. No iCloud support.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/splyce_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsAudioAudio and Music SoftwareiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhoneMixingMusicreviewssoftwareSplyceiPhoneiPodFri, 09 Aug 2013 20:55:00 +0000Michael Simon17736 at http://www.maclife.comDropchord Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/dropchord_review
<!--paging_filter--><p class="p1">Double Fine is a studio known (and beloved) for incredibly eccentric affairs, like Psychonauts, Costume Quest, and Stacking, but by contrast, Dropchord seems remarkably straightforward. It's an arcade-style high-score game released under the guise of a music game – which makes sense given its fantastic electronic dance soundtrack and visualizer-inspired look – but the beats and gameplay feel disconnected. So it's not a rhythm game; that's not a problem. However, the game approach itself never provides as strong of a hook as the presentation, feeling more like something to occupy you while you watch and listen rather than a central pull of the experience.</p><p class="p2"><img src="/files/u297092/screen4.png" width="620" height="349" /></p><p class="p1">With a thumb placed firmly on either side of the central circle, you'll create a line used to clear icons that appear within. Every few seconds, a new set of icons will show up, and clearing them all before the next set emerges extends your multiplier and boosts your score. But hurtful "scratches" also appear in the frame, and hitting one of those zaps your health and kills your chain. In the standard mode, you'll progress through 10 distinct tracks that blend well together and toss in additional play mechanics (like beat pads to tap and notes to hold the line over), while the Full Mix mode provides a leaderboard-centric endless experience that progressively ramps up in difficulty as it unfolds.</p><p class="p1">Visually and aurally, Dropchord is an absolute wonder to take in. The beat-heavy instrumental tracks are memorable, thumping affairs, while the ever-changing graphical filters deliver dizzying results. It's truly enough to make the game a worthwhile affair, but it's a shame that the gameplay never makes quite the same impression. Clearing circles with the line feels routine before long, especially with repeated patterns and no strong connection between what's happening on the screen and what's pumping through the speaker or headphones, and scratches appearing immediately below the current line placement irritate, as do two-fingered beat taps that frequently are not recognized.</p><p class="p1"><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Dropchord dazzles with its presentation, but doesn't make a lasting impact with its interactivity.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id616302485?mt=8">Dropchord 1.0.1</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Double Fine Productions </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.doublefine.com">http://www.doublefine.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$2.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Excellent original electronic dance soundtrack. Graphical filters are frantic and eye-catching. Control scheme is an interesting approach that suits a touch interface well.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Gameplay feels secondary to the amazing presentation and doesn't make a big impression. Irritating moments with scratches appearing in your immediate line path, plus taps not being recognized.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/dropchord_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsarcadeDouble FineDropchordGamesgamesiPadiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhoneMusicreviewssoftwareiPadiPhoneiPodGamesFri, 02 Aug 2013 21:56:40 +0000Andrew Hayward17690 at http://www.maclife.comStream Nation Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/stream_nation_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>There are many solutions for storing photos and videos in the cloud, and Stream Nation is the latest to offer a range of affordable options. Users are initially given 2GB of free storage for photos (JPEG, TIFF, RAW, and others) or videos (MOV, AVI, MPEG, or even MKV), which can be uploaded from Mac or Windows applications or via the free, universal iOS app.<br /><br />If you’re willing to jump through hoops, this free storage can be bumped up to 10GB by performing various tasks such as friend referral (500MB per signup) or following Stream Nation on social networks. This kind of stunt typically annoys us, but the service redeems itself with competitive paid tiers starting at $4 per month for 100GB up to unlimited storage for $19 monthly.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/07/screen_32.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The iOS app includes the option to automatically or manually upload new photos and videos, but we’d prefer separate toggles for each media type. Videos are uploaded in full resolution, but Stream Nation performs server-side optimization to make them playable from anywhere. Even with a fast broadband connection, playback was sometimes grainy; you can force playback at specific resolutions, but this feature wasn’t always reliable in our testing. And in landscape mode, the iPhone photo viewer requires an extra tap to use and doesn’t entirely fill the screen.<br /><br />Otherwise, the app is quite slick – photos and videos have separate “stream” views, while Collections keep content sorted by date or event. Media is private by default, with users in full control of what they share. It’s also secure: Stream Nation saves content on its own servers as well as Amazon S3, so chances are slim that you’ll lose those precious memories.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Nineteen bucks a month for unlimited media storage is a pretty tempting deal, but the Stream Nation app needs a few more tweaks before we’d call it the ultimate cloud option.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stream-nation/id599052717?mt=8" target="_blank">Stream Nation 1.2</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Milestone Project </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.streamnation.com" target="_blank">http://www.streamnation.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Separate views for photos and videos. Accepts wide variety of file formats. Content can be downloaded for offline playback. Generous, affordable paid storage tiers.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Additional free storage requires jumping through hoops. Auto video playback doesn’t utilize highest resolution on fast broadband connection. Photo viewer isn’t as intuitive as video playback. Automatic upload is all or nothing.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/stream_nation_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifecloudimagesiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhonemediamoviesPhotosreviewsSoftwaresoftwareStream NationstreamingvideoiPadMon, 29 Jul 2013 14:00:43 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17646 at http://www.maclife.comGoogle Maps 2.0 (for iPad) Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/google_maps_20_ipad_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Christmas came early late last year as Santa’s elves restored Google Maps to iOS as a third-party app. Seven months later, the mobile Maps has already hit version 2.0 with another stocking full of enhancements, including native support for the iPad. At first glance, Google Maps 2.0 looks identical to the previous version – iOS users were the first to receive this all-new user interface, which finally started arriving on Android devices over the summer. The moment you begin searching, however, changes abound.<br /><br />A new card-based Explore mode serves up popular hangouts at your current location, sorted by Eat, Drink, Shop, Play, and Sleep. Businesses now include five-star ratings and reviews from Zagat and fellow Google users to round out the package. Maps also enhances existing turn-by-turn navigation with live traffic updates, incident reports, and even indoor maps for many shopping malls, airports and other well-traveled locales. The search giant also appears to have squashed sporadic glitches we encountered with the first version while playing music during navigation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/07/screen_28.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The big story with Google Maps 2.0 is native iPad support, and it’s just as lush and expansive as we’d hoped. On the third-generation iPad we tested it on, it was also a bit choppier than expected – scrolling isn’t particularly fluid while browsing maps in standard or satellite views, although Street View worked quite well.<br /><br />For reasons we can’t comprehend, Google Maps still can’t tap into contacts, whether they reside on an iOS device or in Google’s own cloud. For now, this limitation makes Apple's Maps our go-to app for navigating around town, but Google Maps is still the best bet for long-distance hauls, thanks to a hidden Easter egg that allows the selected map to be saved offline by typing “OK Maps” into the search field.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Even with occasionally choppy graphics on the iPad, Google Maps 2.0 is a sequel that delivers. With live traffic, indoor maps, and the ability to save maps offline, Apple has its work cut out for it with iOS 7’s built-in Maps.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-maps/id585027354?mt=8" target="_blank">Google Maps 2.0</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Google </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.google.com" target="_blank">http://www.google.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Native iPad support added, finally. Indoor navigation for malls and public areas. Free live traffic and incident reports</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Still no access to device or Google account contacts. Frequently choppy scrolling in standard or satellite view. Offline caching awkwardly hidden as Easter egg.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/google_maps_20_ipad_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeDirectionsGooglegoogle mapsiPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhoneMapsNavigationreviewsSoftwaresoftwareiPadThu, 25 Jul 2013 19:57:40 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17626 at http://www.maclife.comDuolingo Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/duolingo_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Knowing more than one language not only gives you a better understanding of the world around you, but it can also open up new job opportunities, make travel easier, and help you improve your thinking skills. The creators of <a href="http://www.duolingo.com" target="_blank">Duolingo</a> seem to think so too, which is why they've created an app counterpart to the website – newly compatible with iPad alongside iPhone and iPod touch – that makes it incredibly easy to teach yourself a new language at any time.<br /><br />Duolingo starts you off with the basics of a language and opens up new lessons for you to learn as you master each one. Each lesson incorporates the essentials of language instruction, and features listening, writing, and speaking exercises that reinforce what you are learning. A lesson can be about food, for example, so you’ll learn to identify new words as you rearrange sentences in order, type what you hear, or translate them into English. These lessons both teach and test you at once and waste no time throwing you right into a language, but you’ll be surprised at how easily and quickly you'll start picking things up.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/07/screen_17.png" width="620" height="456" /></p><p>If you already have some prior knowledge of a language, Duolingo also lets you test out of the easier lessons and jump right into ones that match your skill level. Each lesson gives you a limited number of chances to make mistakes, so if you fail too often, you’ll need to restart it from the beginning. The progress-oriented format and unlockable achievements make Duolingo feel a lot like a game, and you’ll want to play it all the time to advance even further. <br /><br />The other great thing about Duolingo is that you can learn Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, and English as a second language whenever you want and never have to pay anything. Each language comes with an extensive array of lessons that give you tips and explanations on their unique traits, so while you aren’t given formal grammar training, you’ll manage to retain a lot if you choose to continue learning beyond the app. Additionally, if you use it in tandem with Duolingo’s free online services, you can learn new lessons on the go and continue your progress on a computer.<br /><strong><br />The bottom line</strong>. If you don’t have the time or money for formal classes, or simply need an on-the-go refresher, Duolingo is your best alternative for learning one, two, or even six languages.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duolingo-learn-languages-for/id570060128?mt=8" target="_blank">Duolingo 2.0.6</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Duolingo, Inc. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.duolingo.com" target="_blank">http://www.duolingo.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>A smart, fun, and fast way to learn up to six new languages whenever you want. Extensive and impressive lessons really teach you to write, speak, and read in a foreign language.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>None.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/duolingo_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeDuolingoEnglishfrenchgermaniPad AppsiPhone and iPodiPod and iPhoneitalianLanguagePortuguesereviewsSoftwaresoftwarespanishiPadFri, 19 Jul 2013 14:00:23 +0000Giancarlo Saldana17566 at http://www.maclife.comBreach & Clear Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/breach_clear_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>From the Osama bin Laden compound raid to the rescue of hostages from Somali pirates, small military strike teams have grabbed more and more headlines in recent years. It's only fitting that video games, which so regularly imitate soldiers' actions via first-person shooters, would follow suit. Breach &amp; Clear is a celebration of the slow, methodical, and tactical side of combat, with your squad of four soldiers tasked with taking out enemy combatants in a series of engagements. You set their paths and then let them loose, watching as your decisions pay off or get your men killed.<br /><br />Simple taps are all it takes to command your troops to their locations, but you're going in blind. Until you enter a room, you never know where the enemy is hiding, so it's important to command the troops to corners and set their resting view for safety. For even more delicate situations, you can throw a flashbang grenade, proceed at half-speed, or even set waypoints so they can stop, reassess, and then proceed. Unlockable, class-based perks offer extra abilities, giving boosts when teammates are nearby or allowing you to draw enemy fire.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/07/screen_9.jpg" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The 15 missions do a good job visually differentiating the three locales (Afghanistan, Turkey, and the South China Sea), and each map is unique enough to offer its own challenge. Story is nonexistent, however, and you’re never given any details on the reasons behind the missions. Some context might have lent a bit more authenticity and intrigue to the stages. In every other respect, though, authenticity isn’t a problem. Breach &amp; Clear takes great pains to fill itself with military terminology, equipment, and weaponry, not to mention interesting facts during the loading screens. For military aficionados, these are quite the treat.<br /><br />It’s also a game that, at least at its most basic levels, is extremely short. Only the three countries (with a handful of missions each) are available right now, and each mission tends to last less than five minutes. Playing on Beginner or Novice will let most players speed through with ease, probably without even touching their squad's extensive upgrades and equipment loadouts. The Standard challenge option is where Breach &amp; Clear starts showing its real tactical potential, with additional difficulty levels above those to unlock. At the higher levels, getting through each stage alive requires a much greater degree of preparation and care. <br /><br />Those divided difficulty levels do lead to some repetition fatigue, though. New stages and difficulty levels are unlocked by a cumulative star ranking, and each difficulty level contributes to that total. It would have been nice if achieving a certain star ranking at a higher difficulty level subsequently awarded it for all lower levels as well. Despite its short length and repeated quests, though, Breach &amp; Clear is a smartly balanced tactical game with a smooth difficulty curve and mind-boggling attention to detail. Tactics fans, or those with a passion for the military, should test their mettle.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line</strong>. Breach &amp; Clear is a short-lived but smartly designed tactics game with impressive military authenticity.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breach-clear/id655749677" target="_blank">Breach &amp; Clear 1.0.2</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Gun Media </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.breachandclear.com" target="_blank">http://www.breachandclear.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$1.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Smart tactics needed on the higher difficulty settings. First-rate military authenticity.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Repeating missions is necessary for stars. Short campaign.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/breach_clear_review#commentsGalleryReviewsactionapp store reviewsAppLifeBreach & ClearGamesgamesGun MediaiPad AppsiPhone and iPodreviewsshooterSoftwaresoftwareStrategytacticaliPadiPhoneiPodThu, 18 Jul 2013 18:47:42 +0000Steve Watts17561 at http://www.maclife.com